nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, june 29, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (10.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) claimed the top spot on Wednesday with the season finale of "The Voice" (10.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2), a new "America's Got Talent" (13.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) and the premiere of "Love in the Wild" (6.47 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3).

"The Voice" finale posted the Peacock's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period in more than three years and biggest overall viewership in nine months while "Got Talent" scored the network's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since 9/15/2010.

FOX (5.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then snagged the silver with another two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4).

Next up was CBS (6.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) with encores of "Undercover Boss" (4.52 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7), "Criminal Minds" (6.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and the relocated "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (7.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) offered up repeats of "The Middle" (3.75 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12), another "The Middle" (3.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10), "Modern Family" (4.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5), "Happy Endings" (2.79 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) and a new "Primetime Nightline" (4.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (0.95 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T13) and another "America's Next Top Model" (0.99 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T13) on The CW (0.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Not applicable due to last week's disruption by the Presidential Address.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.9/5 with an encore telecast delayed by Wimbledon coverage; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49 with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by Wimbledon coverage and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (6/30/10):

NBC (8.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) narrowly took home top honors on Wednesday thanks to an encore of "America's Got Talent" (7.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5) followed by a new "America's Got Talent" (12.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

A competitive silver then went to FOX (5.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) with full hours of "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.79 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) and another "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2).

Next up was CBS (5.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) and its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (3.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9), "Rules of Engagement" (3.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), "Criminal Minds" (6.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and "CSI: NY" (5.85 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) had its own second run mix of "The Middle" (4.07 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12), another "The Middle" (3.90 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "Modern Family" (3.92 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6), "Cougar Town" (2.98 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T12) and "Castle" (3.35 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.12 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T15) and another "America's Next Top Model" (0.91 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T15) on The CW (1.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research